Internal combustion engine



June 16, 1931. c. A. moms, 1,810,193

INTERNAL comsusno'u maxim Filed April 22. 1929 may be of referencedesignate like i Patented June 16, 1931. p

onanrns A. oms, or narrow. omo,

assrenor. 'ro 'rrrom'as AND :nociawarrr LABORATORIES, INC., 0F DAYTON,OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO manner. comnuscrron ENGINE- Applicationflled April 22,

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, particularlyautomotive engines, and to the prevention of accumula-' tions ofobjectionable carbon deposits within the cylinders of such'engines.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide meansautomatically operable upon the manual actuation of a control member-ofthe engine forJintroducing from time to time controlled quantitiesofcarbon remover fluid into the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide in vehicles propelled byinternal c0m-' bustion engines, apparatus which is simple andinexpensive in, construction, is highly effective in operation, andwhich automatically and intermittently functions to mtroduce acontrolled quantity of chemical into the cylinders of the engine uponthenecessary manual actuation of a part used 1n con-. trolling thevehicle. I I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and superiormethod of treating engine cylinders with carbon remover fluid tomaintain the engine at all times free from objectionable carbon dethecylinders of posits.

Other objects and advantages of the invention' will be apparent from thefollowing description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings in which like characters parts throughout the severalviews thereof--- 7 'Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partiallydiagrammatic, of apparatus constructed in accordance with thisinvention, parts being broken away and in section toillustrate theconstruction thereof; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a detail of construction.

The drawings, in which ferred embodiment of the invention,

is disclosed a pre illustrate an internal combustion engine It) hav-- man intake manifold 11 mounted upon a suitable frame or chassis (notshown), which the chassis of an automobile. Suported adjacent the engine10in any suitale manner isa supply container 12,adapted coverelectrically operated valve,

1929. Serial no. 3573057. to holdthe chemical to be injected into thecylinders of the engine 10. As shown, the

container is mounted upon the front side of the dash 13 by suitablebrackets 14 bolted to the dash. Container 12'comprises a can or tank ofrelatively large volume for holding a considerable supply of carbonremover liquid indicated at 15, and has a removable '16 for a fillingopening 17 the cover having a vent 18.

Mounted within the bottom of container 12 is a secondary orfeeding-container; 20 of relatively small volume, comprising a sectionof tubing mounted transversely across the bottom of the container,theends of the tubing being soldered to the opposite side walls of thesupply container. Communicating with the upper portion of the spacewithin the interior of the tubing 20 through anorifice 21 in the wall ofcontainer 12 is a vent tube 22, comprising a copper rod'having a smallbore 23 approximately a thirty-second ofan inch in diam eter. Vent tube22 extends up and opens to atmosphere above the level of liquid-withincontainer 12. At the opposite side, a supply pipe or tube 25 isconnected to con-. tainer 12 so as to be in communication with a port 26opening container into the lower portion of the space within theinterior of tubing 20, forming an outlet for feeding container 20.Tubing 25 is also constructed of a copper rod having a small ore 27, andis of such configuration as to extend up above the level 0 liquid withinbend,'then leading to the intake manifold 11 into which it is tapped asindicated at 28. Thespace within feeding container 20 1 communicateswith the space within supply through the wall of the container 12 to areverse container 12 through a restricted orifice 29,

so that gravity flow from container 12 into tubing 20 ismaterially lessthan the normal rate of outflow from this tubing to the engine.cylinders.

Mounted within supply pipe 25-is an shown in detail in Fig. 2.This-valve comprises a cylindrical casing 30 threadedly receiving atopposite ends plugs 31 and 32, suitable sealin g washers 33 beingpositioned between the casing and plugs. Plug 31 is formed with alongitudinal bore 34 extending from the interior valve chamber 35 to theexterior of the plug through a threaded nipple 36 which receives acoupling member 37 serving to attach an end of supply pipe 25 to thevalve casing. A suitable washer 38 is positioned between the supply pipeand nipple 36 to provide a fluid tight joint.

Plug 32 is provided with a longitudinal bore 40 and with a threadednipple 41 receiving a coupling member 42 for attaching another portionof supply pipe 25 to this end of the valve casing in fiuid'tightrelation. Mounted within valve chamber 35 is a weighted cylindricalvalve member 44 necessarily formed of magnetic material such as iron.Valve 44 is formed at its lower end with a circular groove 45 receivinga washer 46 adapted to engage an upstanding valve seat 47 formed at theupper'end of plug 31 about bore 34. The upper end of valve 44 isprovided with spacing lugs 48 to hold the valve away from the wall ofplug 32 to permit flow of fluid through the casing. Surrounding casing30 is an electromagnetic coil 50 having a winding 51 so positioned as toset up an electromagnetic field when energized serving to hold valve 44upon its seat, -the valve functioning as an armature. Leads 52 and 53 ofcoil 51 are connected to a suitable electricalcircuit of the engine orvehicle.

I As shown, leads 52 and 53 are connected respectively to wires 54 and55 of the primary of the ignition circuit of the engine containingstorage battery 56 and transformer 57. The secondary of the ignitioncircuit is connected by lead 58 to spark plug 59 for firing the chargein the engine cylinder, the other side of the secondary being groundedat 60. Within the ignition circuit is the usual manually controlledswitch lever 62 mounted on the rear side of dash 13 for convenientmanipulation by the operator of the vehicle for controlling the runningor stopping of the engine 10 in the usual manner. A switch 64 isprovided in the parallel circuit leading to coil 51, and a manuallycontrolled shut-oil valve 65 is positioned within supply pipe 25. I

In operation, assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in thedrawing, the operator starts the engine 10 by closing ignition switch 62and stepping on the starter (not shown) in the usual manner. When theignition circuit is closed, current is supplied from battery 56 throughthe ignition circuit and also through the arallel circuit including coil51, switch 64 eing closed. The electromagnetic field serves to holdarmature valve 44 upon its seat with sulfitake manifold and supply pipe25 due to the operation of the engine. During nonuse of the machine, orduring operation when the ignition circuit is closed, and no carbonremover is being supplied to the cylinder of the engine, feedingcontainer 20 gradually fills with a charge of liquid. The volume ofliquid within tubing 20 together with the practically negligible volumewithin bores 23 and 27 of pipes 22 and 25 respectively, which fill tosubstantially the level of liquid within container 12, is so regulatedby the construction of these parts as to provide for the accumulation ofa predetermined small quantity of liquid therein.

When the engine is stopped upon the opening of ignition switch 62, theinertia of the moving parts of the engine will cause it to turn overseveral times after the switch 62 is opened. The resulting suctionserves to pull valve 44 from its seat and the controlled accumulation ofcarbon remover is rapidly withdrawn from feeding container 20 throughsupply pipe 25 and fed to the cylinders of the engine. The enginenormally turning over several times after the ignition switch is openedserves to substan: tially drain feeding container 20 and supply this .7controlled volume of liquid to the cylinders, but such turning over ofthe engine is not suflicient to'result in any material loss of liquidthrough the exhaust after it is introduced into the cylinders. The sizeof the port or restrictedorifice 29 is such that practically anegligible flow takes place therethrough during this period ofintroduction of the accumulation into the cylinders, so that a desiredcontrolled volume of carbon remover is injected.

In the practice heretofore used, introduction of carbon remover has beencarried out at stated intervals, such as about every 500 miles, using asufficient quantity of carbon remover to effectively loosen theaccumulation of deposits which have formed within the cylinders duringthe intervening period. It is found in actual practice that an operatoris apt to omit having this done at proper intervals, and will often runa car for much longer periods even though the car is not operating atits highest efliciency. In accordance with the present invention, thehuman element of the operator of an engine or an engine driven vehicleis eliminated as a factor in the successful use and application ofcarbon remover fluid, and controlled small amounts of such fluid areautomatically injected into the cylinders upon the occurrence ofmovements which the operator must make in operating the engine ordriving the car. The injection'is carried out intermittently and atfrequent intervals as the engine is stopped, so that the fluid is givenan op portunity to efi'ect its solvent action during the period ofnon-use of the engine, and so that accumulation of objectionable amountsof carbon deposits is prevented. Due to the frequent intervals ofinjection, only small amounts of fluid need be introduced upon eachtainer may be provided on the vehicle which will hold a sufiicientvolume for normal operation over a considerable period of time.

l/Vhile the volume of liquid introduced may be varied withinconsiderable limits, depending upon the' operation and requirements ofthe machine, very satisfactory results have been secured by theintroduction of about 5 to 15 0.0. upon each application. lAs soon asthe sfucition exisgling within tge supply pipe 25 ai s upon t e stoppingof the engine, further flow from feeding container 20 is prevented, dueto the elevation of the reverse bend in supply pipe 25 above the normalliquid level within container 12. As a further precaution, theconstruction of valve 44: is such that as soon as the engine has ceasedto turn over and the suction fails within pipe 25, the weight of valveAd causes it to seat by gravity to efi'ectively seal the supply pipe.During this interim liquid gradually flows from supply container 12 intofeeding container 20 through, the restricted orifices 29, so thatanother accumulation or charge is supplied thereto for a subsequentapplication. To restart the engine, ignition switch 62 is closed andvalve 44. is then held upon its seat. The loosened deposits within thecylinders are blown out through the exhaust as the engine is started.

If the customary operation of the vehicle results in unusually frequentstarting an stopping of the engine, the parallel circuit 'of coil 51 maybe disconnected from the ignition circuit by opening switch 64: to

.throwthis automatic injecting mechanism out of operation from. time totime as desired. 'When this is done, valve 65 within supply pipe 25 isclosed to prevent the suction from being efiective upon valve 44 and theliquid containers.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus forcarrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments ofthe invention,-itis to be understood that the invention 1s not limitedto this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may bemade in either without departing from the ,scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I a 1. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising in combination", an internal combustion engine having acylinder, an electri-v cal circuit for said engine, a switchwithin saidelectrical circuit, and means operatively application so that a supplycon-- .liquid level in said supply associated with said electricalcircuit and switch for automatically introducing chemical into. thecylinder of said engine upon the opening of said switch to break theelecwith said' gnitio'n circuit and switch forautomatically introducinga chemical into the cylinder of said engine upon the opening of saidignition switch to stop the engine. i.

3. Apparatus ofthe character described comprising in combination, aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder, a member for stopping thenormal operation of said engine, a container for chemical, means forintroducing chemical from said container into said cylinder, and meansoperatively connected with said member and automatically brought intooperation upon the actuation of said member for the injection into saidcylinder of a predetermined amount ofchemical less than the entireamount of chemical within said container.

4:. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder, a supply container forliquid, a feedingcontainer having. a predetermined volume, means for (1'tween the supply container and the feeding container topreventsubstantial flow there between during the period of emptying of thefeeding container.

5. ln apparatus of the character described, a supply container forliquid, a vent therefor, a feeding'container of predetermined volume, avent for said feeding container extending abovev the normal liquid levelin said supply container, an outlet for said feeding container, and agravity connection between said supply container and said feedingcontainer including a restrictedorifice to limit the flow fromthe supplycontainer to the feeding container toa rate substantially less than thenormal rate of outflow from the feeding container.

6. In apparatus of the character described,'a supply containerforliquid, a vent therefor, a member positioned within and adjacent thelower portion of said supply container forming a feeding container ofpredetermined volume,f a vent for the interior of said member extendingabove the normal container, anoutlet for draining the space within saidfeeding container, said member having an orifice electrical circuit forsaid valve connected in of restricted size providing communicationbetween the interior of said supply container and the interior of saidmember to supply liquid thereto at a rate substantially less' than thenormal rate of outflow from such member.

7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, anengine having a cylinder, a container for liquid, a supply pipe forfeeding liquid from said container to said cylinder, a valve within saidsupply pipe, means automatically operable during the normal running ofsaid engine for maintaining said valve closed, and means forautomatically opening said valve to permit the supply of liquid tromsaid container to said cylinder upon the stopping or the engine. I

8. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder, an ignition circuit forsaid engine, a container for liquid, a supply pipe for feeding liquidfrom said container to said cylinder, an electrically operable valvewithin said supply pipe, and an electric circuit for said valveconnected to said ignition circuit, the construction being such thatsaid valve is held closed when the ignition circuit is closed, saidvalve automatically opening as the ignition circuit is broken under theaction of suction Within said supply pipe resulting from the turningover of the engine by the inertia of the moving parts after the ignitioncircuit is broken.

9. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder, an ignition circuit forsaid engine, a container for liquid, a supply pipe for feeding liquidfrom said container to said cylinder, an electrically operable valvewithin said supply pipe, and an electric circuit for said valveconnected to said ignition circuit, the construction being such thatsaid valve is held closed when the ignition circuit is closed, saidvalve automatically opening as the ignition circuit is broken under theaction of suction within said supply pipe resulting from the turningover of the engine by the inertia of the moving parts after the ignitioncircuit is broken, said valve then being closed upon the stopping of themoving parts of the engine and the failure of suction within said supplypipe.

10. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder, a container for liquid, asupply pipe for feeding liquid from said container to said cylinder, anignition circuit for said engine, an ignition switch for manuallyopening and closing said ignition circuit, an electrically operatedvalve within said supply pipe, an

parallel with said ignition circuit, a separate switch for opening saidvalve icircuit the actuation of said member to stop the engine to permitopening of said closing means to feed carbon remover liquid to thecylinder as the engine is stopped.

12. Apparatus of the character described, comprising in combination, aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder, an intake manifold forsaid engine, a container for carbon remover liquid, a supply pipeleading from said container to said intake manifold, an ignition circuitfor said engine, means for maintaining said supply pipe closed duringthe normal running of said engine, and means automatically operable uponthe opening of said ignition circuit to permit the opening of saidclosing means in'the supply pipe to feed carbon remover liquid to saidintake manifold and cylinder as the engine is stopped. I

13. F or use with an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, and amembei i or stopping 'the normal operation of said engine; means forautomatically introducing into said cylinder a predetermined amount ofcarbon remover, and means adapted to be operatively interconnected withsaid member and said introducing means and constructed to be broughtinto operation upon the actuation of said member to automatically efiectthe introduction into the cylinder of a predetermined amount of carbonremover as the engine is stopped.

14. In the operation of an internal combustion engine having a cylinder,the method which comprises intermittently introducing into the cylindera predetermined small quantity of carbon remover at controlled intervalsas the engine is stopped, to thereby maintain the cylinder free fromobjectionable carbon deposits.

15. Apparatus of the character described adapted for use with aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder, and amem ber for stoppirgthe normal operation of said engine; a container for chemical, aconnection for introducing said chemical into said cylinder, means forcontrolling flow of chemical through said connection, and mechanism forautomatically actuating said flow controlling means upon the operationoperation of said engine,

of said member to stop the engine to cause the introduction of chemicalinto said.

cylinder. I

16. Apparatus of the character described adapted for use with aninternal combustion engine having a cylinder, and a memher for stoppingthe normal operation of said engine; a container for chemical, aconnection for introducing said chemical into said cylinder, avalve forsaid connection, said valve being closed during the normal and meansadapted to operatively interconnect said member With said valve to beactuated, upon the operation of said member to stop the engine, toautomatically open said valve for the introduction of chemical throughsaid connection into said cylinder.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto ax my signature s CHARLES A THOMAS.

